On any weekend night, there might be shouts of "Bunco!" filling the air. What's it all about?
What is Bunco?
Bunco is a dice game played in partners, using three dice. The game is played in four periods consisting of of six rounds each (1-6). The game requires 12 players, four at a table. There is a head table, a middle table, and a loser table. As the game is played, players change tables according to how they did the previous round. Players sitting across from each other are partners for that one round only.
The typical Bunco ante is $5 per player, paid before the start of the game. The $5 goes toward prizes or into the cash coffer to be divied up for the winners. The Bunco group should agree upfront on what categories earn prizes, what the prizes will be and if the prizes are cash, how much is paid for what, i.e.$25 for most Buncos, $20 for most Wins, $10 for 50/50 wins and losses, and $5 most losses.
How is Bunco Played?
Each round, all players try to roll the "Bunco" number, starting with ones, then twos, etc. The head table starts the play, and ends it with a score of 21. The other tables continue rolling and scoring until the head table calls round over.
An Example of Bunco Game Play when the Bunco number is "1":
- The first Bunco player at each table throws three dice.
- If a player rolls a "1", her turn continues.
- If a player does not roll a "1", her turn is over and points are tallied (one point for each "1" rolled) She passes the dice clockwise to the next player (from the other team).
- Each Bunco player plays in turn, trying to roll "1's" until head table calls round over.
- Team scores are compared and winning and losing teams are declared for the round.
- Each player marks either a Win or a Lose on their scorecard and moves to the next table.
Bunco Table Progression:
Whether a team wins or loses determines which table a player heads to next, and who their partner will be. Changing tables is one of the reasons Bunco is so much fun! Here’s how players move around the tables:
- Bunco Head Table – Winning team stays at Head Table, losing team moves to Loser Table.
- Bunco Middle Table – Winning team moves up to Head Table and losing team stays at Middle Table.
- Bunco Loser Table – Winning team moves up to Middle Table, and Losing team stays at Loser Table.
For the next round, each player sits so that they'll have a new partner, including the players who didn't change tables.
Rolling a Bunco!
When a player rolls the round's Bunco number on all three dice, they score a "Bunco". Buncos are worth 25 points, and the player yells “Bunco!” Note: Usually, there is a moving prize for a Bunco and the final Bunco rolled earns the prize.
Bunco Prizes
Once all four periods are played, Bunco players tally their total wins, losses, and Buncos. Prizes (or cash) are given to the winners of designated categories. The categories can differ between Bunco groups but usually include (in order of importance):
- Most Buncos
- Most Wins
- Half and Half Wins and Losses
- Most Losses
A wise rule is that each player can only win one prize. In case of a tie in a category, the tying players could have a roll off, or (if the prize is cash) the players can split the winnings of that category.
Variation Play for Bunco:
Some Bunco groups recognize additional rolls as points. They are:
- Three of a kind = 5 points
- A straight (three sequential numbers) = 5 points
- Playing with a Ghost - If the party is short a player, a “ghost” player can be used that moves table to table, with most players during the night partnering with the ghost. This simply means that real players will roll for their ghost partner.
Bunco Party Planning
Bunco groups may play weekly or monthly and usually each player takes turns as hostess. Each Bunco group member should have everyone's phone numbers and email addresses for party communication. eVite is great for the party invitiations!
Having a theme for each party adds to the fun. Bunco party food is best kept fairly simple with finger foods and snacks, but can include a buffet, depending on the Bunco group and the hostess. Since there are four periods of play, the game can be paused between them for food, drinks and conversation.
Bunco is a great way to take a break from the family and enjoy a much deserved Ladies Night Out! When the Bunco party is over, the ladies will know each other better, and some will go home winners!
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